Snurf is One of Many Drugs Teens Can Easily Buy to Get High

After a drug nicknamed Snurf made four teens ill recently, I scoured the internet and read all I could about it, including information about the incident at Fox News. Even before information about Snurf appeared, I'd begun to have concerns about the increased use of various drugs among children and teens. These drugs, often sold over the counter, may have contributed to increased calls to poison centers as early as July of 2008.

I wrote about increased caffeine poisonings and significant leaps in calls top poison centers here, after hospitals and poison centers in Boston reported significant increases of caffeine poisoning in young adults, especially those ages 19 and under.

Based on what I've discovered since then, I think parents and others have reason for concern about how easily children and teens can buy drugs, not only online but in neighborhood pharmacies, grocery stores and other locations. Perhaps the latest news about the Snurf illnesses or poisonings can serve as an extra reminder , especially if parents and others learn some basic facts and information about what drugs are easily available to their teens and children - and where they can find them.

Why Snurf may be only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to teen drug use

In July of 2008, some national and local hospitals and poison centers, including those in Boston and Indianapolis, received more calls about caffeine poisoning in younger people. A call to James Mawry, Director of Indiana's Poison Center, indicated that Indiana had significant increases in calls - and that was for caffeine, a drug easily found in many products. Until then, I didn't really think of caffeine as a particularly harmful drug. I think differently now.

While caffeine may seem to be a relatively benign drug, many more teens seemed to be suffering highly unpleasant effects from it, perhaps because products from gum to some potato chips can now contain caffeine. It isn't just sold in colas or soft drinks. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning can go beyond some normal alertness and jittery feelings and cause muscle tremors, nausea and even more severe symptoms and irritability. Those with undetected heart problems could be at extra risk.

A trip to a local CVS revealed how easy it was to get drugs that could produce a buzz - or worse

I know some highly caffeinated products are easily found at my local drug store. Why? Because I simply went in to my CVS and bought plenty of over the counter drugs and gums. At the time, they sold right next to the chocolate bars and Hannah Montana candy, easily found by any child or teen. My son put the gum and medications on the counter and helped pay for them. Examples of what we found included super-caffeinated Jolt gum and Alka Seltzer Wake-up Call, the latter labeled as both a pain reliever and alertness aid on the bottle. Each dosage of Alka Seltzer's Wake-up call had 65 mg of caffeine, listed as being about the same amount as that found in a cup of coffee. Package directions were for 2 tablets dissolved in some water, although there were precautions for those under age 12 or over 60.

A product labeled Wake-up Call? Hmmm...I couldn't help wondering if most people bought if for pain relief or to stay awake. Again, just as an experiment, I took a typical dosage and went from feeling very drowsy, even sleep-deprived, to a fully awake state. I couldn't fall asleep until nearly 4 am.

Snurf is only one of many questionable and potentially dangerous drugs available to children and teens

Although Snurf was reportedly bought over the internet ( the story is developing and there is some question about that) , obviously many other drugs may be bought by children and teens by simply walking into a local drug store and handing over their money. When I entered my local CVS pharmacy with my 17 year old teen and spoke to a pharmacist there, I showed him all those highly caffeinated colas, energy gums and over the counter pills that I'd gathered in only a few minutes of browsing through the store. I asked him if teens could buy these products. The answer? Yes.

The Jolt gum I bought at CVS contained the equivalent of several cups of coffee - or more - in one package. As soon as I bought it, my son wanted to try to chew about 4 pieces, since they were small. If I'd said yes, he might not have gotten sick but he could have had trouble getting to sleep that night.

When I was in the drugstore, I also asked the pharmacist about the possible interaction of caffeine, Snurf and such drugs as ADD medications (used to treat children and teens with attention deficit disorder). He wasn't able to give me a specific answer about how a combination of these products could affect children or teens, except to note that - for now - these over the counter drugs are not restricted. If desired, teens can use whatever combination of prescription drugs and caffeinated products, including those with aspirin in them (the Wake-up Call medication) they want. In essence, they are serving as guinea pigs or test subjects for drug effects.

Who knows what combination of drugs like Snurf, caffeinated drinks and over the counter medications children and teens are buying and taking daily? Who knows how many are self-medicating themselves to stay awake, study longer or just feel the rush of certain drug combinations? I certainly don't but I'm keeping an eye on what is available and the potential for harm on developing bodies and minds of children and teens. Based on recent studies and news reports, there seems to be plenty of reason for concern.

Sources
Personal experience

Fox News: Snurf Pills Bought Online Sicken Four High School Students, Sept 8, 2008: www.myfoxphilly.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=A9228C675793B6F289F7EAB763AB9F6D

Increased Caffeine Poisoning In Children and Teens are Noted At Poison Centers in Boston, Indianapolis and Cities Nationwide, Associated Content, July 11, 2008: www.associatedcontent.com/article/872905/increased_caffeine_poisoning_in_children.html